Stringent regulations needed for adoption: Union Minister

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, MAY 3. The Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Mrs. Sumitra Mahajan, on Thursday stressed the need for stringent regulations on adoption of Indian children by foreign nationals. Mrs. Mahajan said she would soon meet the Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K.Advani, and convey him the need for the Home Ministry to come out with such regulations to prevent exploitation of children.

The Union Minister, while speaking to presspersons after visiting the Sishu Vihar where 187 children rescued from various adoption agencies are staying, said non-governmental organisations (NGOs) involved in adoption work should also be subjected to `rigorous monitoring'. At the same time, efforts needed to be made towards improving the living conditions of `Lambadas' and such sections who were more prone to adoption racket, she said.

Mrs. Mahajan promised to consider the demand made by the volunteers of Gramya Resource Centre for Women for changes in the CARA guidelines. "I will speak to Mrs. Menaka Gandhi. A decision in this regard has to be taken by her Ministry," she told them. After spending nearly one hour with the children at Sishu Vihar, she expressed satisfaction over the arrangements there and directed the officials to attend to some children who were malnourished.

The Minister for Women and Child Welfare, Mrs. S.Saraswathi, the Women Development and Child Welfare director, Ms. Shalini Mishra, and other officials accompanied Mrs. Mahajan.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : Another child restored to mother
Next     : Rasna doll's debut into films